Bulldog

       During the New Year period, there will definitely be many relatives and friends visiting the house. When they see the dog, they often tease it a bit. Sometimes when the dog is playing enthusiastically, it may swallow many toys that were originally used just for entertainment. What should the owner do if the dog eats something it shouldn’t?
       After a dog swallows a foreign object, symptoms such as vomiting and loss of appetite may appear. Vomiting occurs due to pyloric obstruction, gastric dilation, and irritation of the stomach by the foreign object. Appetite varies significantly in different cases when there is a foreign object in the stomach. Some sick dogs have a normal appetite, while others eat less, and some show anorexia.
       Once the owner discovers that the dog has eaten something, it is best to take the dog to a veterinary hospital immediately. Generally, the veterinarian will ask in detail about the medical history, but many owners often do not know what the dog ate. Most dogs that have swallowed foreign objects usually show no obvious abnormalities on abdominal palpation, but occasionally an object can be felt, such as a rib segment in the stomach. Radiographic examination can detect masses or radiopaque objects in the stomach, but more often no abnormalities are seen on X-rays. At this time, the vet will advise the owner to consider contrast studies (gastrointestinal barium studies) or endoscopic examination.
       If the foreign object can be expelled with the dog's vomiting, then you do not need to worry too much about other problems. However, most foreign objects require removal by endoscopy or surgery (laparotomy and gastrotomy). Both methods require general anesthesia for the dog, and before the procedure, it must be ensured that the dog is not dehydrated and plasma electrolyte levels are normal. Prolonged vomiting in dogs can cause dehydration, but hypovolemic shock rarely occurs unless a gastric perforation happens. Therefore, for the dog's health, the owner must always pay close attention to the dog's behavior.